Skin straining devices and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A skin straining device comprising:
- a first straining element comprising a first skin attachment structure and a first frame structure;
a second straining element comprising a second skin attachment structure and a second frame structure, wherein at least one of said first and second frame structures is configured to define an area of space to provide a window in which to guide positioning to a skin treatment region;
a handle structure coupled to the first straining element and the second straining element, configured to move the first straining element with respect to the second straining element; and
wherein the first skin attachment structure and second skin attachment structure are configured to be coupled to skin on opposite sides of the skin treatment region, and wherein the first and second straining elements are each configured to be selectively manipulated by a user to move with respect to each other in a manner that changes a distance between the first skin attachment structure and the second skin attachment structure;
a measuring element configured to determine a measurement corresponding to amount of force applied to the skin treatment region, wherein the measuring element is configured to provide measurements of the amount of force applied to the skin treatment region while the first and second straining elements are selectively manipulated by the user; and
a dressing configured to be placed on a pre-strained skin treatment region to maintain at least a portion of the strain.
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Abstract
A skin frame or other skin straining device strains skin on each side of a wound where a wound has been closed to off load stresses at the wound site. A dressing may be applied to the strained skin. The dressing may be integral with one or more elements of the skin straining device.
187 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A skin straining device comprising:
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a first straining element comprising a first skin attachment structure and a first frame structure; a second straining element comprising a second skin attachment structure and a second frame structure, wherein at least one of said first and second frame structures is configured to define an area of space to provide a window in which to guide positioning to a skin treatment region; a handle structure coupled to the first straining element and the second straining element, configured to move the first straining element with respect to the second straining element; and wherein the first skin attachment structure and second skin attachment structure are configured to be coupled to skin on opposite sides of the skin treatment region, and wherein the first and second straining elements are each configured to be selectively manipulated by a user to move with respect to each other in a manner that changes a distance between the first skin attachment structure and the second skin attachment structure; a measuring element configured to determine a measurement corresponding to amount of force applied to the skin treatment region, wherein the measuring element is configured to provide measurements of the amount of force applied to the skin treatment region while the first and second straining elements are selectively manipulated by the user; and a dressing configured to be placed on a pre-strained skin treatment region to maintain at least a portion of the strain. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A skin straining device comprising:
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a first straining element comprising a first skin attachment structure; a second straining element comprising a second skin attachment structure; a handle structure coupled to the first straining element and the second straining element, configured to move the first straining element with respect to the second straining element; and wherein the first skin attachment structure and second skin attachment structure each comprise a plurality of attachment elements and are configured to be coupled to skin on opposite sides of a skin treatment region, and wherein each of the attachment elements of each of the plurality of attachment elements of each of the first and second skin attachment structures provides a variable strain between an adjacent attachment element, and wherein the first and second straining elements are each configured to be selectively manipulated by a user to move with respect to each other in a manner that changes a distance between the first skin attachment structure and the second skin attachment structure; a plurality of spring elements, each of said plurality of spring elements positioned between adjacent attachment elements; and a measuring element configured to determine a measurement corresponding to amount of force applied to the skin treatment region, wherein the measuring element is configured to provide measurements of the amount of force applied to the skin treatment region while the first and second straining elements are selectively manipulated by the user. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification